Potty Training Tips & Tricks

So I would say that Maren is pretty well potty trained. She's been wearing big girl panties since mid July. We knew she was ready when her diapers were just flat out bugging her. One night she wanted to put on the panties and that was it, she hasn't worn a diaper since. We still have to coerce her to go and if she holds it too long she always ends up going a little bit before she gets to the bathroom. If we can just get her into the bathroom she goes just fine. We have to get pretty creative sometimes. Here's what has worked:

The potty timer - Kirk and Maren picked out a timer together at the store and I would set it for every 2 hours. When it went off, it was like a big celebration and we would run to the potty.

Potty treats - from gummy vitamins (he, he, he) to little suckers, to M&Ms. I usually have to show her first to bribe her.

Boingy, Boingy - (Kirk's strategy) basically lifting her up and down like she is bouncing all the way to the bathroom.

Horsey - not your typical horsey ride. This consists of using vacuum attachments as pretend horses that we ride into the bathroom.

2 potty chairs - one high tech, singing toddler potty, and one Elmo seat cover for the big toilet. (Having 2 options increases the chances of her picking one.)

It's been interesting and at times exhausting, but our efforts have paid off.

Favorite potty training moments:

Maren sitting on the toilet looking at a Forbes magazine (Hmmm.... wonder where she gets that?)

Maren: "Bye pooh, love you" (as she flushes)

Kirk bribing Maren to use the outhouse by telling her she could go look at the pooh.

Maren: "Wow! Big worm!"

Such a big girl. Man I love those curls!